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Hardware AMD Readies 690G Chipset
Anh Tuan Huynh (Blog) - February 14, 2007 10:37 PM
Print E-mail del.icio.us 23 comment(s) - last by CorrND.. on Feb 15 at 4:55 PM

AMD 690G-based motherboard -- Image courtesy TweakTown
AMD will launch its long-awaited "RS690" later this month

AMD’s RS690 has hit plenty of snags since AMD acquired ATI. However, DailyTech has learned the long-awaited chipset is ready for an end-of-month launch. AMD will introduce the RS690 as the AMD 690G with ATI Radeon X1250 graphics later this month instead of theRadeon Xpress 1200/1250 name as previously reported. The 690G name follows AMD’s new chipset naming scheme that was previously implemented on RD480 and RD580.

Although the integrated graphics core carries the ATI Radeon X1250 name, it is actually a derivative of AMD’s previous ATI Radeon X700 graphics core. The ATI Radeon X1250 IGP sports enhanced video processing features. New to the ATI Radeon X700-derived graphics core is the AVIVO video processing engine. With AVIVO, the ATI Radeon X1250 IGP accelerates H.264 and VC-1 video formats in hardware. HD DVD and Blu-ray use H.264 and VC-1 video formats.

Integrated graphics aside, AMD 690G-based motherboards will mostly be micro ATX and designed for Socket AM2 processors. Graphics will be expandable with a PCI Express x16 slot. Motherboard manufacturers are left to decide the PCI and PCIe x1 configuration. Nevertheless, the AMD 690G will pair up with AMD’s SB600 south bridge for I/O functions. Expect the SB600 to provide four SATA 3.0Gbps ports, high-definition audio and Gigabit Ethernet to AMD 690G-based motherboards.

AMD 690G-based motherboards will arrive later this month. Expect manufacturers to utilize the same PCB as previous AMD Radeon Xpress 1100-based motherboards as the AMD 690G is pin-compatible with the RS485. Until AMD launches its 690G, prospective buyers can always check out early reviews at TweakTown.

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Paraller-port
By Hare on 2/15/2007 1:44:59 AM , Rating: 2
I wish they would just drop the paraller-port and add a toslink spdif-out.

I hate legacy ports...




RE: Paraller-port
By INeedCache on 2/15/2007 6:20:53 AM , Rating: 2
Lots of our customers are still using printers on parallel ports. I don't think it's quite time yet, perhaps another year to 18 months before we go there.


RE: Paraller-port
By CorrND on 2/15/2007 10:44:01 AM , Rating: 2
Sure, lots of people are still using parallel port printers, but are they really the people that would be interested in purchasing a motherboard like this? My instinct is that the target audience for this board would be more interested in having a digital audio port (of any flavor) than in having a parallel port, probably by a wide margin.

Of course, we're just looking at one image on this page. It's certainly possible that a manufacturer will make a board without a parallel port.


RE: Paraller-port
By mino on 2/15/2007 4:05:56 PM , Rating: 3
Actually the people going for integrated solution are the most porbable to use legacy equipment.
Also serial port is STILL widely used for many even NEW projects and products since it is the most reliable an easy to implement.
USB compatibility is hell compared to RS232 which just works.


RE: Paraller-port
By SunAngel on 2/15/2007 10:58:36 AM , Rating: 1
Yes, Yes. Drop the parallel port and add toslink and coaxial digital outputs as well as HDMI. Even if 99.9% of computer enthusiasts don't have or use HDTVs, the 0.01% of the computer enthusiasts that do have HDTVs are the ones that spend the most money and have the fewest product returns.


RE: Paraller-port
By ncage on 2/15/2007 11:11:32 AM , Rating: 2
Yes and computer enthusiast account for .0001% of sales. I imagine they will keep the parallel port :). They only really care about what the OEMs think.


RE: Paraller-port
By MightyAA on 2/15/2007 11:45:39 AM , Rating: 3
Exactly.. A enthusiast isn't going to buy onboard graphic solutions anyway.


RE: Paraller-port
By Mitch101 on 2/15/2007 12:15:20 PM , Rating: 2
I would certainly prefer to see an HDMI port and optical/coax output as the cost wouldnt be more than $5-$10.00 difference.

To isolate sound card static I use Optical outputs even on my office PC to headphone adapter for $20.00. Also to eliminate the clutter of a 6 wire hookup.

While I dont currently use HDMI for anything I would like to know its there if I do require it in the future.

As for onboard graphics I use a Tforce 6100 mobo now for media center and it does 1920x1080 quite perfectly. Adding an enthusiast level video card means I have to use a standard case and bigger power supply, instead of a smaller micro case. It would also add heat and fan noise. While its not a killer gaming rig its certainly an excellent Media Center unit with decent graphics performance.

USB to Parallel port adapters are cheap also lets get rid of the Parallel port already. Might as well get rid of serial ports too.


RE: Paraller-port
By CorrND on 2/15/2007 4:55:30 PM , Rating: 2
I'm an enthusiast and I use onboard graphics for everything other than my gaming rig. If you're spending money on a discrete graphics card for an HTPC, media server, office machine, etc., you're wasting your money. This motherboard has WAY more GPU power than you need for anything other than games.

I think you guys are confusing 'enthusiast' with 'power user'.


RE: Paraller-port
By therealnickdanger on 2/15/2007 11:16:05 AM , Rating: 2
It's a reference design, I believe, manufacturers can opt in or out of any I/O they choose...


RE: Paraller-port
By Anh Huynh on 2/15/2007 11:34:32 AM , Rating: 2
It's an ECS motherboard


RE: Paraller-port
By AstroCreep on 2/15/2007 1:41:40 PM , Rating: 2
Where are you reading that? I'm not seeing the logo anywhere on the board, nor does it say 'ECS' in the body - just 'reference board'.


RE: Paraller-port
By Anh Huynh on 2/15/2007 3:20:27 PM , Rating: 2
Just trust me on this one, it is an ECS production board. Tweaktown did a review on it the other day.

ATI reference boards are not purple, purple is ECS' trademark color. That and it came from ECS press material.


RE: Paraller-port
By AstroCreep on 2/15/2007 1:42:59 PM , Rating: 2
I'd too hate a 'paraller', if I knew what it was. ;) j/k


HDMI & HDCP
By Operandi on 2/15/2007 12:55:17 AM , Rating: 2
Will the on board graphics be capable of handling HDCP content?




RE: HDMI & HDCP
By MrTweak on 2/15/2007 1:12:50 AM , Rating: 3
Yes, it will.


RE: HDMI & HDCP
By Anh Huynh on 2/15/2007 11:34:04 AM , Rating: 2
It is up to the motherboard manufacturer to implement the HDCP keys.


integrated graphics
By pinadski on 2/15/2007 2:11:46 AM , Rating: 3
will this IGP has better performance than geforce6100/6150?




RE: integrated graphics
By semo on 2/15/2007 7:41:32 AM , Rating: 2
it looks like it. the x700 i know can handle hl:source, far cry, f.e.a.r., etc. i'm not sure what x700 will there be in those mobos. how much dedicated ram will they have and what type?



RE: integrated graphics
By Flunk on 2/15/2007 11:27:09 AM , Rating: 2
The amount of dedicated RAM is 0 and since this graphics core will be running at a lower frequency than the X700 and using shared RAM I wouldn't expect much. Good enough for Vista's Aero Glass perhaps but not for gaming.


Ooh, pretty colors
By Polynikes on 2/15/2007 10:47:16 AM , Rating: 2
Purple. Why the hell did they choose purple?




RE: Ooh, pretty colors
By 05SilverGT on 2/15/2007 1:40:50 PM , Rating: 2
Purple seems to work fine for the #1 defense in the NFL the Baltimore Ravens. Looks good on the board to me.


RE: Ooh, pretty colors
By slash196 on 2/15/2007 4:51:14 PM , Rating: 2
Two words: Colts D.


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